Baron to play in World Team Cup

Honolulu’s Shelby Baron will return to the BNP Paribas World Team Cup later this month in Seoul. The U.S. team for wheelchair tennis’ premier international team competition was announced Wednesday.

Baron, a Punahou senior, is one of four juniors on the team. She is the second-ranked junior nationally and helped the U.S. to a fifth-place finish at last year’s World Team Cup, considered the Davis and Fed Cup for wheelchair tennis. This March, she took a training trip to Baton Rouge, La., and Pensacola, Fla., playing 16 matches in seven days.

This year’s Cup is May 21-27 at the Seoul Olympic Tennis Center. More than 160 players and 52 teams from 25 nations are expected to participate.

Hawaii’s Kua places 10th in WAC golf

Senior TJ Kua finished 10th at Hawaii’s final Western Athletic Conference men’s golf championship appearance on Wednesday at Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, Nev.

San Jose State won its first WAC title, shooting a three-day total of 876 to beat New Mexico State by six. Hawaii (309—911) dropped two spots to seventh on the final day.

Kua, whose second-round 68 put him four shots off the lead, could only manage a 76 in the final round. His 222 total was 11 behind medalist Jay Myers of SJSU. Myers birdied the first playoff hole to beat New Mexico State’s Justin Shin.

Hawaii junior Cory Oride (80—228) tied for 21st. Kua and Oride were both named to the All-WAC team Wednesday. Kua earned first-team honors and Oride second. Both are from Kauai.

Nainoa Calip (81—230) finished 26th for the Rainbows, Jared Sawada (76—235) 32nd and David Saka (77—240) 36th.

Myers was voted the WAC’s Player of the Year. Freshman of the Year honors went to Idaho’s Sean McMullen. Coach of the Year is SJSU’s John Kennaday.